A space of musings, past and current as well as the future of amusements in the legendary Coney Island and Beyond!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Sitt Attends Lola's Reborn Celebration

Last Sunday, at the festivities for the reopening of the Lola Staar boutique, Mr. Sitt himself made his appearance. As told by one guest, Joe Sitt, with smiles and friendliness, shook hands, spoke to many, and had a bud. Looking slightly vulnerable and squeamish to public scrutiny he seemed to be concerned with dodging photos and video before making his quick exit off the boardwalk.

The Village Voice’s Runnin’ Scared piece by Neil deMause reported:

The party featured a hot pink cake and the guitar stylings of Polar Bear Club troubadour Amos Wengler (his "Lola Staar Is Back," with its singalong chorus of "Don't mess with Lola/She's gonna react," was a particular hit). But all were upstaged when in walked Joe Sitt himself, dressed in shades and a polo shirt. As onlookers goggled, the developer grabbed a plate of sausage and onions, and greeted his erstwhile adversary Carlin like an old friend. Thor associate Digna Rodriguez-Poulton hinted that the fenced-in tire-strewn wasteland that currently occupies much of Thor's Coney holdings wouldn't remain that way all summer, with a circus a possibility in July or August. Given the remarks passed around at the Ruby's bar, Sitt still has a long way to go to win over a skeptical Coney populace. ("You're Joe Sitt?" one patron gasped on meeting him. "You don't have horns!") Even Carlin, who once again seems hopeful about the future, with a sitdown scheduled with Sitt for next week to discuss his plans, isn't deluding herself that all is now copacetic: "It's all about bargaining tactics, and if that doesn't work, he could be back to evicting us all in a few months."

Many have been speculating as to what’s behind this new twist of maneuvers by Sitt. All in all, at this point, it just seems like another obvious pr tactic by Mr. Sitt to diminish the villain-image that's been created of him. And Carlin has been the hardest worker here - mustering up the courage to round up her allies and speak up, publicly, and fight – culminating in Thor to lower his hammer....for the moment, anyway.